They arrived without a choice and without a support system. We step in because their survival depends on it.

Kristen was born naturally curious and is always interested in meeting and learning about new people. She pursued an education in international studies and global education. After serving in South America as a Peace Corps volunteer, Kristen lived in Japan for four years where she taught English and finished her master’s degree. She returned to the U.S. and settled in Mississippi where she taught English as a Second Language to students from around the world at Mississippi State University. She later worked in MSU’s Office of Study Abroad developing international study programs for university professors and students. As the spouse of a career military officer, she has moved many times and learned to understand and appreciate the cultural nuances associated with working with people from different parts of the country and world. She holds a B.A. in International Studies and Spanish/Latin American Studies from American University and an M.S. in Global and International Education from Drexel University.

Jamie Scotti (formerly Everett) is the Executive Director of Refugee Assistance Alliance (RAA), a grassroots, community based non-profit in South Florida which serves refugee families from around the world. Jamie joined RAA in the summer of 2018, when the organization was only 6 months old. She considers it a privilege to have helped build the organization and its programming and policies alongside the founder. She is extremely proud of the amazing staff team at RAA, which includes former refugees and immigrants from diverse backgrounds and worldviews. Together, we help our client families feel welcome, understood, and appreciated for who they are, as well as assist them in navigating their new lives here in the USA. Jamie serves on the Board of Directors for Set Her Free, a Ugandan non-profit which shelters and educates girls. She circumnavigated the globe in 2015 on a study abroad Semester at Sea ship, where she mentored students and led Impact Travel Excursions in places including Vietnam, India, Myanmar, and South Africa. For several years, Jamie lived in the Brazilian Amazon, where she worked with indigenous women to create a micro-enterprise for women’s economic empowerment. Prior to working for RAA, Jamie worked in Women's Empowerment and Protection for the International Rescue Committee. She holds a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.A. in Feminist and Cross-cultural Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and an M.A. in International Administration from the University of Miami, where she studied poverty and development, human rights, and non-profit management.

Kamar is a wife and mom to two kids. She came to the United States from Syria in 2016 through the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program. Kamar has been with RAA since its beginning and continues to support and guide RAA staff in assisting newly arrived refugees. She earned her GED and associate degree of Art here and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Broward College, working toward her long-term career goals.

Romona joined RAA in 2019 as a tutor in Homestead, Fl. She migrated to the United States at 12 years old. Her experience in her native Jamaica lead to a passion for public service and helping the community. Romona recently graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelors's Degree in International Relations with an Undergraduate Certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. There she studied Arabic as well as Spanish. She grew passionate for Refugees displaced by war.

It was Heather’s extensive administrative experience combined with her passion for advocacy that brought her to RAA in 2022. A lifelong learner, Heather has an M.A. in English Literature from the University of New Hampshire and a Paralegal Certificate from Boston University. Heather has worked in the nonprofit sector in both education and performing arts, in the corporate world at a mid-sized law firm, and more recently supporting government contracts that assist immigrants and refugees. She greatly valued her time as a volunteer for Ascentria Care Alliance in New England welcoming and aiding New Americans, and she is honored to now be a part of the RAA team.

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Kristen is a Licensed Clinical Social worker. She provides clinical supervision to social work interns and mental health referrals. She is also assisting RAA with implementing a trauma informed care approach to our programming. In her professional career, Kristen has over 15 years of experience working with refugees, including unaccompanied minors and torture survivors, in the United States and around the world.  She's worked with Humanitarian agencies and Peacekeeping Operations in Northern and Western Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.

Kristen holds an M.S. in Global Affairs with a concentration in Humanitarian Assistance from New York University and an M.S.W. from Florida International University. Beyond her professional experience, she is an active member of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Association of South Florida, the National Association of Social Workers and the New York University Alumni Association of South Florida.

Sarah first joined RAA as a volunteer on a community sponsorship team in 2022. She has since taken on the role of ESL Coordinator and is motivated to empower refugees through learning English to accomplish their goals. She received her BA from the University of Florida in Anthropology and Linguistics as well as a certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language. She is passionate about language learning and education, building community, and social justice. She is honored and grateful to play a part in welcoming and assisting refugee families in South Florida. 

Noelle’s passion for working within her community led her to join RAA. Growing up in Florida, Noelle developed an interest in understanding the impact of the climate crisis on people’s lives and livelihoods. She got her BA in Environmental Studies from the University of San Francisco. Over the past four years, Noelle has dedicated her time as a community organizer in South Florida, working to address issues related to housing, voting rights, and the climate crisis. In particular, Noelle enjoys working with volunteers to help them find and carry out their passion. She is excited to use her passion for community organizing to assist refugees in South Florida.

Salma comes from a dynamic multicultural background where the Middle East meets the West. At the age of 15, she left her hometown in California and took an opportunity to live and study in Egypt where she found great interest in community development projects for underserved populations. Her experiences living in a developing country triggered her pursuit to be a compassionate educator. Salma has spent the last 18 years serving children and adults from all over the world in various fields of education, including English language learning, behavioral therapy, educational consulting, and development. She started working with refugees in South Florida in 2016 and joined RAA in 2021. She’s helped many immigrants from South America and the Middle East with English language acquisition, skills training, and finding a career path. She holds a Master of Science in Adult Education and Human Resource Development from Florida International University. As a life-long learner herself, she believes that working with underserved communities is a two-way road, you will learn just as much, if not more than what you aim to teach.

Sher, a scholar of religion, mariner, and digital content producer, is dedicated to utilizing cloud AI services to support marginalized communities in forging trustworthy and lasting relationships with non-profits, schools, and corporations. As a newcomer to South Florida, Sher has fallen in love with the region's ecology and wants to synthesize nature and technology to drive Miami's rich tapestry as a city of dreams for incoming refugees. In his free time, Sher likes to visit Miami's museums, art decos, and restaurants all the while playing around with new software technologies. 

Jo is a senior executive with extensive experience in nonprofit marketing and strategic development in the USA and UK. AS RAA's Director of Strategic Partnerships Jo's brief includes grant management, communications and key stakeholder engagement. She co-leads RAA's Workplace Training program, working to engage local employers in providing federally funded workplace training for refugee workers.

Before joining RAA, Jo worked for Arts Council England, where she worked on grant programs for the arts sector and advised arts and education nonprofits in financial sustainability and scaling, at the Museums, Libraries & Archives Council, where she developed policy around financial sustainability and innovation, and authored UK government commissioned reports on governance, and as Head of Marketing for London's National Army Museum. Jo's career has been dedicated to advancing social impact organizations, and she loves her role at RAA, empowering refugees with the skills and opportunities they need to thrive in America.

Rajaa Zewanah is the Client Coordinator at RAA, where she supports refugee families with compassion, understanding, and dedication. Rajaa’s journey with RAA began as one of the organization’s very first clients. She later became a volunteer, and now plays a key role on staff, drawing from her own experience to guide and connect others to the support they need. Rajaa recently earned her Associate of Arts degree from Miami Dade College and holds a Child Care Training Certificate from the U.S. She also earned her high school diploma in Syria before coming to the United States through the U.S. Refugee Resettlement program in 2016. A proud mom of three, Rajaa is passionate about helping families build strong foundations and feel at home in their new communities.